An investigation by PF last year found that councils were braced for rising rent arrears because of universal credit roll out and were siphoning off resources to put into emergency hardship funds.

Meanwhile, a report published by the Resolution Foundation think-tank yesterday estimated that, despite Hammond’s Budget announcement, three million people are due to be worse off under universal credit, compared to the outgoing system.

Laura Gardiner, research director at the Resolution Foundation, said the government’s extra investment meant that, “for the first time since early 2015, universal credit is set to be more expensive than the legacy benefits it is replacing”.

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